PEGASUS/DART PHOTO OPPORTUNITY OCT. 15 AT VANDENBERG AFB
Michael Braukus
October 12, 2004
NASA Headquarters
(Phone: 2026/358-1979)
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center
(Phone: 321/867-2468)
Kim Newton
Marshall Space Flight Center
(Phone: 256/544-0034)
Barry Beneski
Orbital Sciences Corporation
(Phone: 703/406-5528)
KSC Release: 78-04
PEGASUS/DART Photo Opportunity Oct. 15 at Vandenberg AFB
NASA's Demonstration of Autonomous Rendezvous Technology (DART), to be
launched Oct. 26, will be featured in a news media opportunity on
Friday, Oct. 15 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. DART will
be seen mated to the Orbital Sciences Pegasus rocket during
activities to encapsulate the satellite into the launch vehicle
fairing.
DART is an advanced flight demonstrator that will autonomously locate
and maneuver near an orbiting satellite. The DART spacecraft weights
about 800 pounds and is nearly 6 feet long and 3 feet in diameter.
The Orbital Sciences Pegasus XL vehicle will launch DART into a
circular polar orbit of approximately 475 miles.
The DART satellite provides a key step in establishing autonomous
rendezvous capabilities for the U.S. Space Program. While previous
rendezvous and docking efforts have been piloted by astronauts, the
unmanned DART satellite will have computers and cameras to perform
its rendezvous functions.
Once in orbit, DART will make contact with a target satellite, the
Multiple Paths, Beyond-Line-of-Sight Communications (MUBLCOM), also
built by Orbital Sciences headquartered in Dulles, Va., and launched
in 1999. DART will then perform several close-proximity operations,
such as moving toward and away from the satellite using navigation
data provided by on-board sensors. The entire mission will last only
24 hours and will be accomplished without human intervention. The
DART flight computer will determine its own path to accomplish its
mission objectives.
For this event in Hangar 1555, standard clean room protocol will be
observed. Those planning to attend are requested to wear long pants.
Shorts or tank tops are not permitted. Closed-toe shoes are also
required. Clean room attire (bunny suits) will be furnished. Quality
control personnel may request cleaning of photographic equipment with
alcohol wipes that will be provided. No suede, leather or vinyl
attire or accessories are permitted. Please do not wear perfume,
cologne or makeup. No graphite pencils, food, tobacco, lighters,
matches or pocket knives will be permitted inside the clean room.
Because of the solid propellant of the Pegasus launch vehicle, no
cellular telephones, pagers, wireless microphones or two-way radios
can be allowed inside Hangar 1555.
Electronic flash photography is permitted. The lighting in the
facility with the Pegasus rocket is high pressure sodium (orange).
Within the clean enclosure that surrounds the spacecraft on the nose
of the Pegasus, the lighting is standard fluorescent.
Spokespeople from NASA and Orbital Sciences will be available to
discuss the DART spacecraft and Pegasus launch vehicle and to answer
questions.
On Friday, Oct. 15, media will depart at 8:30 a.m. from the Vandenberg
Air Force Base main gate for Hangar 1555 escorted by USAF 30th Space
Wing Public Affairs.
DART is scheduled for launch aboard the Pegasus XL rocket on Oct. 26
at the opening of a 7-minute launch window that extends from 11:13:32
a.m. - 11:20:32 a.m. EDT. Pegasus deployment will occur over the
Pacific Ocean approximately 100 miles west-northwest of Vandenberg
Air Force Base, Calif., from the Orbital Sciences L-1011 carrier
aircraft.
The DART project is managed for NASA by the Marshall Space Flight
Center in Huntsville, Ala. The DART spacecraft and Pegasus XL rocket
are built by Orbital Sciences Corporation. Spacecraft/launch vehicle
integration and launch countdown management are the responsibility of
NASA's John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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